FAQ

Q- DO I NEED TO PUT THE MOLD THROUGH A BREAK IN PROCESS?

A-    NO – THE MOLD SHOULD COME TO YOU CLEAN AND READY TO USE.

·          MAKE SURE THE SPRUE PLATE SWINGS FREELY ACROSS THE TOP.

·          SECURELY ATTACH TO A SET OF COMPARABLE HANDLES

·         HEAT THE MOLD UP TO ABOUT 350-400 DEGREES WITH YOUR HOT ALLOY (700 DEGREES) OR HOT PLATE ETC.  CAUTION - EXCEEDING THE STATED TEMPERATURE CAN RUIN YOUR MOLD

·          CAST SEVERAL ROUNDS TILL THE BULLETS BEGIN TO FILL OUT. EACH MOLD AND BULLET SIZE WILL RESULT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE --BE PATIENT.

·         TOO SOON AND THE BULLETS WILL BE WRINKLED AND IMPROPERLY FILLED OUT.

·         TOO HOT AND THE BULLETS COULD LOOK FROSTY.

·         IT IS NOT NECESSARY BUT WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE TO TEMPERATURE – LIGHTLY SMOKING THE CAVITIES WITH A LIGHTER CAN SPEED THE FILL OUT PROCESS.

Q – WHY DO THE DIMENSIONS VARY FROM SPEC?

A- THERE COULD BE SEVERAL REASONS. HERE ARE A FEW OF THE MOST COMMON:

 ·         LOOK FOR ANY DEBRIS OR IMPERFECTION THAT COULD BE KEEPING THE MOLD HALVES FROM CLOSING TIGHTLY TOGETHER. OFTEN TIMES LEAD SMEARS OR OTHER DEBRIS CAN PREVENT THE MOLD FROM CLOSING PROPERLY.

 ·         THE SPECS ARE FROM WHEEL WEIGHT ALLOY.  ALL OTHER ALLOY RECIPES CAN AFFECT THE SIZE OF THE BULLET AS MUCH AS 1/2 % AND 8 % ON THE WEIGHT.

 ·         TEMPERATURE CAN ALSO AFFECT BULLET SIZE AND WEIGHT. HIGHER TEMPERATURES WILL RESULT IN GREATER SHRINKAGE AS THE BULLET COOLS, THEREBY PRODUCING A SLIGHTLY SMALLER AND LIGHTER BULLET THAN ONE CAST OF THE SAME ALLOY AT A LOWER TEMPERATURE. COOLER TEMPATURES WILL RESULT IN AN UNDERSIZED AND NOT COMPLETELY FILL OUT PROJECTILE. ALL EDGES SHOULD BE CRISP AND SMOOTH

 ·         CUSTOMERS MEASURING INSTRUMENTS CAN VARY IN QUALITY

 ·         THE MOLDS SHOULD BE MEASURED WITH PRECISION GROUND PINS. HERE AT ARSENAL MOLDS BEFORE THEY ARE SHIPPED ENSURING A CORRECT DIMENSION.

 THAT BEING SAID – AS MUCH AS WE LIKE TO THINK WE ARE PERFECT, WE ARE CAPABLE OF MISTAKES. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.

Q- WHAT HANDLES DO I USE?

 ·         WE RECOMMEND THE LEE COMMERCIAL MOLD HANDLES. THEY ARE INEXPENSIVE AND REPLACEBALE. WE SELL THEM THROUGH OUR WEBSITE OR BY CLICKING THIS LINK:  Lee Commercial Mold Handles

  OTHER TIPS AND TRICKS-

·         OPENING AND CLOSING THE MOLD DURING CASTING -  LIGHTLY TAP YOUR MALLET ON THE HANDLE HINGE WHEN OPENING AND CLOSING THE MOLD. THIS WILL HELP WITH SEATING AND RELEASING THE PINS AND BUSHINGS. YOUR MOLD SHOULD           NEVER NEED MORE THAN A GENTLE CLOSING AND OPENING PROCESS.

 ·         IF THE MOLD STARTS TO STICK - LOOK TO SEE IF THE BUSHINGS ARE FREE FROM ANY TYPE OF BUILD UP. CAUTION: PUTTING OIL IN THE PIN AND BUSHING WILL EVENTUALLY BUILD UP AND CAUSE THE MOLD TO STICK

·         OCCASIONALLY THE BOTTOM OF THE SPRUE PLATE COULD BENEFIT FROM A LIGHT DAB OF 2-STROKE MOTOR OIL OR COMPARABLE PRODUCT. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET ANY IN THE MOLD CAVITIES

·         DON’T OVERHEAT YOUR MOLD. ALUMINUM AND BRASS CAN BOTH WARP IN EXTREME HEATS. IT CAN ALSO LOOSEN THE FIT ON YOUR ALIGNMENT BUSHINGS

·         ALUMINUM CONDUCTS HEAT VERY QUICKLY BUT CAN ALSO LOSE HEAT QUICKLY. WHEN YOU REACH THE RIGHT CASTING TEMPERATURE TRY TO STAY IN A CONSTANT ROUTINE FOR BEST RESULTS.

·         BRASS MOLDS ARE A LITTLE MORE FORGIVING THAN ALUMINUM WITH HEAT RETENTION.

·         EITHER WAY TRY TO KEEP UP A GOOD CASTING SPEED OR INCREASE THE ALLOY TEMPERATURE A LITTLE.

THERE ARE A COUPLE GOOD ONLINE FORUMS WITH PLENTY OF GOOD AND BAD ADVICE IF YOU FEEL SO INCLINED

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